Machine for opening shipping cases from the flat



E. ARDELL July 14, 1942,

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT 9 Sheets-Sheet l\NVENTOR BY W, 24424,,

H/S ATTORNEYS Filed March 14, 1940 July 14, 1942. E. ARDELL MACHINE FOROPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Filed March 14, i940 9 Sheets-Shei2 INVENTOR 506/ 17 fliflfll July 14, .1942. E. ARDELL 2,239,320

MACHINE FOR OPENING'SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT e Filed March 14,1940 9Sheets-Sheet 3 /5 ATTORNEYS J l 14,'1942.- IEARDELL 2,289,820

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING GASES FROM THE FLAT Filed 3.51.2011 14,1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 506.6 flfiDEZL BY I Hi6 ATTORNEYS E.ARDELL July 14, 1942.

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT I Filed March 14, 19409 Sheets-Sheet 5 a H15 ATTORNEYS J n F u 2 5 fix? ,L 5 0/ mam 111.

E. ARDELL July 14, 1942.

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT 7 9 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed March 14, 1940 E. ARDELL July 14, 1942.

' MACHINE FOR OPENING- SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Fil ed March 14,1940 9 Sheets-Sheet "r INVENTOR 0621 BY P4144422. M M2 4 Z 4 M145 Hi5ATTORNEYS July 14, 1942; 2,289,820 MACHINE i onormnme SHIPPING CASESFROM THE F1 1 E. ARDELL.

Filed March 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR E0641? .4205;

HAS ATTORNEYS F l nH l l... ll

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' Julyl4, 1942. E. ARDELL ,289,8

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Filed March 14, 1940 9Sheets-Sheet 9 r'f mazkz z" fig/J I 10 l/IGH .9 JUPPLY JI/PPL Y a; 0M5or owv;

DETECTOR. /77 f v n" EZOLE/VO/D BRAKE 43 TIMI/VG T/M/NG V 9 {N0 045:)(No 0M5) 'BYFM WWW fl/S ATTORNEYS Patented July 14,. 1942 ,UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,289,820 MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM TEE FLATJackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Corporation, Long Island segm-Ardell,

Standard-Knapp City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March14, 1940, Serial No. 323,878 29 Claims. (o1. 93-6) This inventionrelates to machines for opening folded or collapsed shipping or packingcases, folding the flaps of one or both ends in any desired manner topartially or wholly form the end walls and delivering the thus set-upcases for packing or otherwise. More particularly th invention relatesto machines for opening such cases, partially forming, by flap folding,the end which is to become the bottom of the case and placing thethus-formed case upon the funnel or horn of a case packing machine.

-In shipping orstoring various articles such as cans or like containerscontaining food, beverages or other products, as well as rectangularcartons or packages containing cereals, confectionery and the like, orarticles such as cakes of soap; etc., it is customary to place them inshipping or packing cases constructed of heavy fibrous material, forexample, "corrugated board, fibre board or the like. These articles arepacked in the shipping or packing cases by means of a case packingmachine which usually is provided with a funnel, or horn, through whichthe charge of articles is pushed into the case. The shipping cases areplaced in horizontal position partially telescoped upon the mouth of thefunnel, being held there by a pivoted arm or"drop-ofi lever until thecharge is received. Then the drop-off lever lowers the filled case(turning it to upright position) onto a support such as a conveyor whichcarries the case to a sealing machine.

The shipping case blanks come from the manufacturer in collapsedcondition, i. e., folded fiat,

for convenience in handling, and the operator of the case packer removesthem one at a time from their shipping bundle and sets them up by hand,opening or squaring them up, folding the inner and outer flaps of oneend closed, or nearly so, and spreading out the flaps at the oppositeend which is to form the top of the case, and then places the case onthe funnel of the case packer.

In food, beverage and other plants where the product is packed in cans,after filling and closing the cans, they commonly go to-a labellingmachine, thence to the case-packing machines and from there to thecase-sealing machines. In many plants the delivery of cans at thebeginning of such a line is substantially continuous, as, for example,in the case of can-filling machines, and

the operation of all of the subsequent machines in the line is automaticso that the cans flow through the line constantly at a predeterminedrate. The only part of the line that depends upon the human element isthe setting up and placing of the shipping cases on the funnel of thecasepacking machine. If the operator fails to supply the case packerwitnesses at a sufficiently rapid rate, either intentionally orotherwise, the operation of the entire packing line is' interfered with.

The general object of the present invention is therefore to provide amachine for receiving the shipping cases in the flat and opening orsquaring them up, appropriately folding their flaps,

and delivering them to a desiredstation, orplacing themon the funnel ofthe case-packing machine, at an extremely rapid rate, which issubstantially higher than is possible by manual operation.

Another object is to provide a machine of this I kindwhich will operatewithoutattention other than keeping the magazine filled with folded orcollapsed casesin the condition in which they are received from themanufacturer.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine which willpositively open or square up the collapsed case and appropriately foldthe flaps without damaging the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine arranged in assmall compass as possible so that it will not occupy an excessive amountof space.

The invention will be better understood and its.

advantages will be apparent froni'a consideration of the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsexemplifying a machine for setting up cases and placing them on thefunnel of a can packer.

In these drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the case opening machine with part of themagazine broken away;

Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a collapsed shipping case, and Fig. 1ba similar view of a shipping case which has been opened or sciuared upbut whose flaps which are to form the bottom and top end walls have notbeen folded;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the machine partly in plan and partly inhorizontal section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the case feeding plunger takenon line 3--3of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the case opener and of a portion of the canpacking machine onto the funnel of which the set-up packing cases arebeing delivered;

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections, Fig. 6 being taken on line 6-15 ofFig. 4, illustrating the case opening or squaring-up mechanism. Fig. 5shows I this mechanism in engagement with a collapsed '3, l and 3',

case ready to open it, and Fig. 6 shows the position of the mechanismafter the case is opened;

Fig. '7 is a. horizontal section taken on line T-I of Fig. 1illustrating the main shaft of the machine and associated parts;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1 showing themechanism for spreading the outer flaps ofthe end of the case which isto form the bottom and also showing parts of the case deliverymechanism;

Fig: 9 is a horizontal'section taken on broken line 99 of Fig. 8 showingthe mechanism for folding the inner bottom flaps of the case;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line Ill-l of Fig.- 8 showing theinner flap folding mechanism holding the inner bottom flaps closed andwith one of the outer bottom flaps folded thereover, the opposite outerflap being left in its origi- --nal position, the case being ready fordelivery onto the funnel of the case packer;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a part of the mechanism illustrated inFig. 10 for folding the upper outer flap;

Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of the delivery mechanism fortransferring the set-up case from 'the opening or squaring up stationonto the funnel of the case packer;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line l4-l4 of Fig. '7 showing thevacuum control valve of the squaring-up mechanism;

Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views taken respectively on lines |-l5 andI6-l6 of Fig. 8 showing two cam operated timing switches forming part ofthe electricalcontrol for the machine;

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatic view of the lower runway 01 the case packerprovided with can operated control switches;

Fig. 18 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the controlsystem;

Fig. 19 is a timing diagram showing the relative movements of theprincipal elements of the case, opener; and

Figs-20 and 21 (on sheet 1) are views showing the overlapping positionsof a squared-up case leaving the squaring-up station and a collapsedcase leaving the magazine and approaching the squaring-up station. Fig.20 is avertical section taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 21.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig.

-13 shows the shipping or packing cases made of corrugated, board, orfibre board, or the like,

as received from the manufacturer in fiat, folded condition. These caseshave major and minor side portions I and 2 to form the side walls orbody -of the case and corresponding extensions or flaps 3, 4 and 3' and4'. The apparatus will also handle square cases. In Fig. 1b thecollapsed case has been opened or squared up by bending the material ofthe sides at the creases or score lines 5 which are provided at thecorners. The flaps 4', when folded, form-the bottom and top end walls ofthe case (referring to the case in upright position after being packedwith cans). The flaps 4 and 4' which are extensions of the minor sidewalls 2 are folded to closed position first'and will be referred to asthe inner flaps, while the flaps 3 and 3' are closed over them and willbe referred to as the outer -flaps.

In reference first to the general operation of the case opener, andtracing the progress of a case through the machine, the collapsed casessuch as shown in Fig. 1a are fed one at a time from a storage magazine 6by means of a reciprocating plunger 7 to a case opening or squaring upstation indicated generally by reference numeral S1. The case being fedfrom magazine 6 is indicated by reference numeral A. A1 (Fig. 5)indicates the case after reaching the opening station S1 but while stillin collapsed condition.

The case, after being squared up is indicated by A2 and is in thecondition shown in Fig. 1b with its flaps 3, 4, 3', 4' at both endsprojecting straight out as extensions of the sides of the case. While atthe opening station S1 the two inner flaps 4 and 4' are folded to closedposition and the outer flap 3 at the upper side of the case is foldeddownwardly at least partially over the inner flaps somewhat as shown inFigs. 10 and 13. The case is then advanced, in a direction at rightangles to the feeding movement, by

means of a reciprocating carriage 8 to a delivery of the bottom flaps.

station S2, which in the instance illustrated comprises the funnel 9a ofa can packing machine 9. A3 indicates this position of the case.

The lower outer flap 3' is folded upwardly over the inner flaps by meansof the drop-off lever ID of the can packer as it rises .to hold the caseon the funnel. This completes the closing of all The flaps at theopposite end of the case which is to be the top are spread out by thefunnel of the can packer as the case is pushed into slightly telescopingposition thereon, but these flaps are not otherwise manipulated.

The case, after receiving a charge of cans from the can packer is turnedto upright position A4' the closed but unsealed bottom flaps as well asthe open top flaps.

The can packingmachine 9 may be of any suitable construction so long asit is provided with a drop-off lever (such as lever III) which swingsupwardly to hold the case in position on the funnel and downwardly afterthe case has received its charge of cans so as to turn the case toupright position on the conveyor. The can packer which is indicated inFig. 4 of drawings is of the sort shown and described in Patent No.2,127,924, granted August 23, 1938, to W. D. Kimball, Cornelius I.Braren and George P. Schaefer, except that it is arranged to pack threerows of four cans each instead of four rows of three cans each.

The cans are delivered ina single line through.

an inclined chute I2 into the mouth l3 of adividing apparatus whichdistributes the cans equally into three runways (not shown), by means ofwhich they are conveyed to three superposed shelves I4. The cans roll ontheir sides along the chute, through the divider, and along the runwaysand shelves l4. After the charging layer is formed on the shelves M, thecans are pushed endwise by the pushers I5 through the funnel 9a into thecase. One of the can runways just referred to is illustrated in Fig. 17and indicated by reference numeral l6 and will be referred to againlater on.

The can packer is driven by its own independent source of power (notshown) such as an electric motor, which operates continuously. Thismotor, through a one-revolution clutch, indicated diagrammatically bynumeral l1, drives an operating cam l8 which causes the plungers l5 tooperate in such manner that a complete charge of cans is placed in thecase each time the onerevolution clutch is tripped.

the

- end to a hand lever 20 which'is fixed to a cross shaft 2|. Also fixedto shaft 2| is a short arm 22 which is connected by means of a chain 23passing over idler sprocket 24 to the gripping member 25. Hence wheneverrod I9 is shifted I to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, it causes thetripping of the one-revolution clutch l1 and the operation of the canpacker to place a charge of cans in the case on the funnel. Thismovement of rod l9 and rocking of lever 20 not only trips theone-revolution clutch l1, but also (and previous to tripping thisclutch), causes the drop-off arm III to rise from the dotted position tothe full line position to hold the case on the funnel. This'is efiectedby a pawl 26 fixed to shaft 2| which, when the shaft is rocked, islifted to release it from a shoulder 21 behind which the pawl droppedwhen shaft 28, which carries drop-off arm l0, turned when the previouscase was lowered to upright position on the conveyor The details of thisdrop-off mechanism are set forthin Patent No. 2,148,820, grantedFebruary 28, 1939, to Wallace D. Kimball, Cornelius I. Braren and .JohnH.

Mosley.

Referring now to the case opening apparatus, with the object ofproviding a machine which will operate at 'a high rate.of speed, themachine is arranged so that at approximately the same time that a caseleaves the opening station S1 to be delivered by the reciprocatingcarriage 8 to the delivery station S2, asucceeding-case leaves themagazine 6. For this same reason and also in order to facilitate themanipulation of the flaps and to deliver the case in telescopingrelation to the funnel 9a, the delivery movement and the feedingmovement are at right angles to one another.

Accordingly the feed plunger 1 is actuated by 48 and permitsreplenishing the magazine from this position. t a

The dribbling device 45 comprises a horizontal bar4fl having an inwardlyrounded surface extending preferably throughout the width of the rearside of the magazine and one or more cam members 48 preferably attachedto the bar. The purpose of this device is to limit the number of casesresting on the case A which is being fed, and hence limit the frictioncaused by the weight of these cases. The dribble device 45 is adjustablevertically soas to obtain the right pressure on the lowermost case A tocause the feeding plunger I to operate properly.

Dribble device 46 functions to cause the cases to be urged against thefront wall of the magazine by the wedging action of cam members 48 meansof an oscillatirm lever 29 to which it' is connected by a link 30, andthe reciprocating carriage 8 is actuated by a second oscillating lever3| to which it is connected by a link 32. Lever 29 is keyed to ahorizontal shaft 33 and lever 3| to a vertical shaft 34, these shaftsbeing operatively connected by bevelled gearing 35. In

' this way the oscillating levers 29 and 3| are caused to move in unisonand the desired oscillating movement is imparted to them by means of acrank 36 (Figs. 1 and 4) and a connecting link 31 which is pivoted tolever 29 at 38. Crank 36 is fixed to the end of the slow speed shaft 39of a speed-reducing gearing which is contained within a housing 40. Thehigh speed shaft 4| of this gearing'is belted to a drivirg motor 42,this motor being provided with a solenoid brake, the operating coil 43of which is illustrated in Fig. 18. i a

The magazine 6 is a rectangular tower slightly larger in its dimensionsthan the folded'cases and of a suitable height to hold a comparativelylarge quantity of these fiat cases lying one upon another. The magazineis constructed of angle members 44 forming the corners and sheet metalsides 45 connecting these angle members. The side at'the rear orleft-hand side 'of the magazine as viewed in Fig. 1 is preferablyomitted leaving the comer angle bars to guide the cases. This permitsaccess to the cases should they fail properly to feed downwardly. Theside wall 45 at the front of the-machine as viewed in Fig. 1

and arrest the downward movement of the cases, each case beingtemporarily supported at its opposite edges by the bar 41 and theopposite wall of the magazine. This causes the case to bow downwardly atits center due to the weight of the cases above it. The bowed center ofthe case is supported by the cases below it. Inasmuch as these cases arecontinuously being removed by the feed plunger, however, the caseresting on the dribble bar bows more and more until the end springs pastthe bar and joins the body of cases in the lower section of themagazine.

The magazine 6 is tilted away from the opening station S1 as shown inFig. 1, both to provide more space between the magazine and thesetting-up mechanism at the opening station Si, and in order to reducethe length of the delivery stroke of carriage B, or in other words thedistance through which the opened up case must be moved in order toplace it on the funnel 8a of the case packer. This is illustrated inFigs. 1a and la but will be described later on.

Feed plunger 1 slides on two parallel bars 49 positioned centrally belowthe magazine, and the case being fed out of the magazine is supportedcentrally by a pair of inclined rails 50 which are parallel with thebars 49. It is also supported at its side margins by a second pair ofinclined rails 5|. Rails 50 and 5| are inclined as far as the pointindicated by'reference numeral 52, beyond which these rails becomehorizontal so that the case in theposition A1 (Fig. 5) at the openingstation is horizontal. Hence the case as it slides along the rails 50and 5| under the action of plunger 1 undergoes a turning or droppingmovement as the center of the case passes the point 52. This raises therear of the case away from the inclined rails.

Plunger I has a cross member ,53 upon the top of which is pivoted anadjustable main catch member 54 having a lip 55 biased upwardly by ahelical spring 56 to engage the rear edge of the lowermost case to feedit forward. Due to the fibrous nature of the material of which thecases'arev made they possess considerable resiliency and this is apt tovary with changing climatic conditions. This varies the height of thecenter of the rounded edge of the case which,

isto be engaged by lip 55. For this reason and is terminated slightlyabove a dribbling device also to accommodate cases of inherentlydifferent thickness, it is desirable to make the height of lip 55adjustable, as, for example/by means of adjusting screw 51. The heightof lip 55 of the main catch is adjusted so that the upper edge of thecatch member rubs' lightly on the succeeding case B. This assures thatthe lip attains the best possible bite on the rounded edge the frontwall of the magazine, the pressure of the cases in the magazine isremoved. The resilience of the fibrous material causes an expansion orthickening of the case which tends I to raise the rounded rear edge ofthe case above the lip 55 of the main catch. Also the turning of thecase after its center passes the point 52 of the supporting rails causesthe rear edge of the case to move or swing upwardly out of range of themain catch. In order to overcome this difficulty an auxiliary catch 58is provided. This bolt 14 catch is pivoted at 59 to the main catch andis biased upwardly by means of a second helical spring 68. A cross pin6| limits its upward movement.

When plunger -1 is at the end of its rearward stroke, auxiliary catch 58is held in depressed position with its lip slightly to the rear of lip55 of the main catch by means of a member 62 which is preferablyadjustably mounted on the rear of the magazine. As soon as the plungermoves forward enough for auxiliary catch 58 to clear the inner wall ofthe magazine, the catch moves upwardly under the action of spring 53 andslides along the lower surface of the next succeeding case B until caseA emerges from the magazine when the auxiliary catch 58 is still held indepressed position by means'of a member 63 which is mounted for verticaladjustment upon and projecting centrally from the front wall 45 of themagazine. However,

member 63 is so adjusted that its lower surface (which may be eitherstraight or curved as shown) permits auxiliary catch 58 to rise abovethe lip 55 of themain catch so that the plunger will continue to engagethe case being fed and advance it against the stop 64 at the openingstation $1. l

Member 63 also serves an additional function. The sudden expansion orthickening of the rounded edge at the rear of the case A being fed,which takes place upon the release of the compression pressure of thecases above it as it emerges from the magazine, tends to. make the casespring forward away from the plunger. It is important to prevent thisbecause otherwise neither of the lips or 58 may re-engage the edge ofthe case, in which event the case is apt to become jammed. Member 63prevents this springing away since its position is the right distancefrom the point 52 on the rails to apply a degree of pressure to,therising upper sur-' face of the case as the case turns vertically aboutpoint 52.

The main shaft 65 of the machine extends transversely beneath theopening station S1 and carries the-series of cams which actuate thesquaring-up mechanism, the flap folding mechanism and various controldevices. This shaft is driven by means of a chain 66 from the slow speedshaft 39 of the reducing gear 46.

The squaring-up mechanism (Figs. 5 and 6) comprises one or more vacuumcups 6! arranged to engage the lower major side of the case and one ormore vacuum cups 68 which engage the opposite major side of the case.These are timed by mechanism to be described so as to engage the case inthe position shown in Fig. 5 at the 64. Vacuum is simultaneouslyapplied. As soon as this engagement takes place the plunger 1 releasesthe case and commences its return stroke.

Lower vacuum cups 6'! are mounted on an arm 69 pivoted at 18 adjacentthe stop 64 and the front end of the unfolded case. When no case is atthe opening station, arm 69 rests upon a fixed stop H lowering thevacuum cup sufficiently to be out of the path of an incoming case. Thearm is raised by means of a roller 12 on a rock member 13 which ispivoted on a (Fig. '7) passing through the rail members 50 which serveto support the central portion of the case at position A1. It is rockedin one direction by means of a cam 15 on main shaft 65, and in theopposite direction by a helical spring 16.

The upper vacuum cups 68 are mounted on an arm .11 which by means of aparallelogram linkage indicated generally by numeral 18 is maintainedalways parallel to the horizontal portions of rails 50 and is swung fromthe position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, to open orsquare up the case. The two arms of the parallelogram linkage 18 arepivoted at 19 and 88 adjacent and in front of the stop member 64. One ofthese arms has ashort extension 8| which by means of a link 82 isoperatively connected at 83 to the right hand end of rock member 13.

Arms 69 and 11 have air passageways shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 bymeans of which the vacuum cups 6! are connected with a flexible tubing84 and vacuum cups 68 to a tubing 85. These tubes are preferably joinedtogether and connected to a conduit which leads to vacuum control valve87 (Figs. 14 and 7). The inlet conduit 88 of this control valve isconnected to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). This valve isopened and closed by a cam 89 on main shaft 65, the valve being opened.during the period when the roller 96 is on the high part of the cam.

It will be understood that as the cam 15 rotates, vacuum cup arms 69 and11 will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 so as to cause vacuumcups 61 and 68 to engage the case in position A1, roller 9! on rockmember 13 then being at the low spot of cam 15. As the cam rotates, rockmember 13 is tilted about its pivot, causing roller 12 to rel-ease thelower vacuum cup arm 19 and by a downward movement of link 82 causingthe parallelogram linkage 18 to swing to the vertical position shown inFig. 6, thereby lifting the upper major side of the case and swingingthe minor sides as indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 6 so as tosquare-up'the case.

The vacuum valve cam 89 is so timed as to open this valve aboutsimultaneously with the engagement of the vacuum cups with the case inposition A1 and to close it shortly after the right hand minor side ofthe case in position A2 engages stop members 92 and 93 which areappropriately positioned directly above stop 64.

As the case swings into squared-up position the corner diagonallyopposite stop 64 lifts a latchlike member 94 which is also the actuatinglever of a case detector svi -tch 95, closing this switch for a shortinterval, the switch being opened again as soon as the lever 94 dropsbehind the left hand side wall of the case as shown in Fig. 6 to holdthe case in squared-up position against the stops 92 and 93. Thisdetector switch is included in the circuit diagram of Fig. 18- whichwill be referred to later on.

The cases as they come from the manufacturer instant the front edge ofthe case reaches stop are scored at the base of each flap soas tofacilitate the bending of the flap, but even so the hinge is quit'estiff and resistant.to bending, and not infrequently the flap has atendency to bend at one side'or the other of the score line which wouldmake the flap either too short or too long and interfere with the properclosing of the end of the case. It is, possible to provide straightedges along the exterior bottom-and top sides of the case at the scorelines to assure the formation of the hinge of the flap in a straightline, but this is not so easy to accomplish as to the inner flaps whichextend from the vertical sides of the case. If these sides bulge even toa small extent at the time the inner flaps are folded, the case isliable to buckle in such a manner as to seriously weaken it and even todestroy its usability. I have devised a method for manipulating both theouter andinner flaps which avoids thisdifliculty and assures that theflap hinges are straight and correctly positioned at the base of eachflap;

In accordance with this method, I first spread outwardly the two outerflaps as shown, for

example, in Fig. 8, preferably engaging the outer surfaces of the upperand lower sides of the case with straight edge members 96 and 91 whichare disposed exactly at the base of each flap where it is desired tohave the bending take place to form the flap hinge. The spreading ofthese outer flaps 3 and 3 places the vertical side walls of the 'caseunder tension and stretches them straight,

the tension being the greatest just before the'fiap hinges break. Whilethe vertical side walls of the case are placed under tension in thismanner, I commence the folding of the inner flaps 4 and 0' which extendfrom these vertical walls. Inasmuch as the breaking of the hinges ofthese inner flapstakes place while the vertical walls are under suchtension, and therefore without bulges, the hinges form straight and atthe correct locations. The outward spreading of the outer flaps 3 and 3having broken the flaps at the score lines, the flaps may then easily befolded inwardly to closed position later on.

The particular flap-spreading and flap-folding mechanism which I naveprovided is illustrated in several of the figures, particularly Figs. 8,9, 10 and 7. These mechanisms are drivenfrom a short shaft 98 which inturn is driven by a bevelled gearing 99 from main shaft 65. Theflapspreading members are shown at I00 in Fig. 8

and are arranged to rotate continuously in opposite directions on twoparallel horizontal shafts IM and I02. They engage the flaps near theirouter edges and as soon as they have spread them v slightly more thanindicated in Fig. 8, the spreading members rotate past the edges of theflaps and release them.

Shaft IOI of the up'per flap spreader I00 is driven by means of a chainI03 which passes over a pair of idler sprockets I04 and around a drivingsprocket I05. This-sprocket is fixed on a short collar I00 which alsohas a second sprocket I01 fixed thereon. Passing around sprocket I0'I isa main driving chain I08 which passes over an idler sprocket I09 andthence around driving sprocket IIO on shaft 90. The back of this chainthen drives a sprocket on a second collar III which drives this collarin the opposite direction of rotation from that of shaft IN. A secondsprocket II} fixed to this second collar drives shaft I02 by means of ashort chain II3, so that shaft I02 and shaft IOI are driven in oppositedirections.

The straight edge members 95 and 91 are located one directly above theother, and thecase as it is fed to the position S1 by the feedingplunger 1 is correctly positioned to bring the edges of these members 96and 91 at the respective score lines of the flaps Sand 3 by means ofadjustable guides IIS (Fig. 2). The upper straight edge member ismounted on the' which also rotate continuously in opposite directionsand, are driven by bevelled gearing H8 and I I9 from shaft 98. On eachof the vertical shafts us and III there are two auxiliary folders m andone main folder I2I. Each of the auxiliary folders I20 is an L-shapedmember (to reach around the end of the flap) having a roller I22 at itsouter end. The main folder I2I has a long straight arm from the end ofwhich a curved wiping portion I23 extends to a point opposite the end ofauxiliary folder I20, its outer surface being slightly to the rear of,the surface of roller .I22, so that as the folders rotate, the rollerwill strike the surface of the flap first.

In operation the two auxiliary folders carrying the rollers I22 engageone of the inner flaps at.

two spaced points as shown in Fig. 10 and at a position towards theouter edge of the flap away from its base as shown in Fig. 9. Theseauxiliary folders are thusable to exert 'sufflcient pressure against theflaps without marring them so as to initially break the base of the flapat the score line and thus form the hinge I24. It

will be remembered that the vertical side walls of the case from whichthese inner flaps 4 and 4' extend are being held straight under thetension imparted by the spreading members I00 at the instant that thisbreaking of the hinges I24 of the inner flaps 4 and 4' by rollers I22takes place. The curvature of the folding portions I23 of the main flapfolders I2I is such that very shortly after the initial movement of theflaps by rollers I22, these curved portions contact the surfaces of theflaps and move them with a wiping action to fully closed position asshown in full lines in Fig. 9. During the squaring up of the case and thfolding of the inner flaps the carriage 8 returns from its delivery of aprevious case to the full line position shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Thesquaring up of the case is completed, however,

' during the first half of this return stroke so that case engaging boththe top and side margins.

Delivery carriage 8 is provided with a pivoted pushing arm I28 whichpushes the squared-up case A2 forward while it is held by the membersI25 and I20 which hold the case in squared-up condition after it leavesthe squaring up station S1 where it is thus held by the stops 04, 92 and93 and the catch lever 94. Pushing arm H8 is arranged to be lifted tothe horizontal position short extension I3I which carries -a roller I32for engaging a holding bar I33, the function and operation of which willshortly appear.

In order to swing arm I28 to the lower or vertical position, theopposite end of shaft I28 is providedwith a control arm I34 having aroller I35 which is engaged by a vertically movable short control barI36. This control bar is car'- ried by a head piece I3'I at the upperend of a vertical rod I38 which extends downwardly alongside of mainshaft 65. This rod slides in suitable brackets carried by the machineframe and fixed upon it near its lower end there is a member I39carrying a roller I40 which cooperates with a cam I on main shaft 65.

As cam I4I permits member I39 and rod I38 to move downwardly under theirown weight, control bar I36 depresses roller I35 and control arm I34thereby swinging pushing arm I28 from the horizontal to the verticalposition as shown in Fig. 13. This movement is timed to take place justafter the inner flaps are folded and during the initial forward ordelivery stroke of carriage 8, as may be seen from'the timing diagram,Fig. 19. This at least partially folds the upper outer flap 3 over theclosed inner flaps and starts the case on its delivery movement.

This movement swings extension I3I from its 45 position to the right, asshown in Fig. 12, to a 45 position to the left. asv shown in Figs. .11and 13. Inasmuch as control bar I36 overlaps holding bar I33,,roller I32on extension I3I will engage the lower surface of the holding bar beforeroller I35 of control arm I34 is released by control bar I36, and asshown in Fig. 11, holding bar I 33 will consequently maintain pushingarm I28 in its vertical position until carriage 8 reaches the end of itsdelivery stroke. When roller I32 leavesthe right hand end of holding barI33 it engages the vertical face of a stop I42. The final movement ofthe carriage causes pushing arm I28 to force the case in position A3onto the funnel 9a of the canpacking machine and firmly fold the outerflap 3 against the bottom of the case where it is held by the drop-offlever I which rises to vertical position at this time.

During the first part of the return stroke of carriage 8, roller I32rollsv first upwardly and then downwardly on the vertical face of stopI42 as helical spring I30 on shaft I29 returns pushing arm I28v tohorizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. Extension I3Ihas now swung back to its original right hand position and roller I 32again engages the lower surface of holding bar I33. Before the returnstroke of the, carriage is completed, cam I will have raised rod I38 andcontrol bar I36 to their original upper position, as shown in Fig. 12and in dotted lines in Fig. 11 so as to be ready for a repetition of thecycle just described in order to deliver the next succeeding case.

The operation of the case-opening apparatus has been described alongwith the description of the construction so that a repetition isbelieved ranged that a new case is fed out of the magazine 6 at aboutthe same instant that the.

squared-up case leaves the squaring-up station S1, and since these twomovements are at right.

angles to one another, a considerably longer delivery stroke would berequired, thus making the apparatus occupy more floor space, were it notfor' the arrangement of the slideway for the collapsed cases leaving themagazine which is'disposed at an angle to the case support at theopening station $1. This is evident from Figs. 20 and 21. The uppersurfaces of the left hand portion of rails 59 being inclined as far asthe point 52, and the portion of these rails to the right of this pointbeing horizontal, the forward edge of case A can overlap the lower outerflap 3 of case A2 which is moving out of the squaring-up station S1 andtowards the case position As on the funnel of the can packer. But forthis overlapping, either the feeding stroke or the delivery stroke wouldhave to be increased by approximately the width of flap 3'.

In order to control the operation of the'case opener and the can packer,the operation of the can packer is made dependent upon that of the caseopener. That is to say, the case opener initiates the operation of thecan packer each time a case is placed on the can packer funnel 9.. Inaddition, automatic controls are provided for stopping the case opener,should the supply of cans in the can packer reach a predetermined lowpoint, and for re-starting the case opener as soon as the supply of cansis replenished. Also provision is made for stopping the case openershould the supply of cases run out in magazine 6 and no case bedelivered onto the can packer funnel, or should the squaring-upmechanism fail to open up the case at the case opening station.

The control for stopping the case opener if the roller I44 rides intothe valley of the cam, under the pressure of spring I46, rod I9 isshifted to the right and actuates the tripping lever 29 of the canpacker.

However, a catch mechanism is provided at one end of lever I45 toprevent this movement inthe event that no case. has been delivered ontothe funnel 9a of the case packer. This catch mechanism comprises a plateI41 on lever I45, and a cooperating catch lever I48 which is pivoted tomove into and out of the path of plate I41. This lever is actuated by arod I49, connected to a lever I50 adapted to be engaged by the lowerflap of the case when properly placed in position A: on the can packerfunnel.

The control of the case opener which is responsive to the supply of cansin the case packer and to the failure of the squaring-up mechanismproperly to square up a case is electrical and is included in thediagram of connections illustrated in Fig. 18; The driving motor 42 ofthe case opener illustrated is a three-phase A. 0. motor having threeleads II. the solenoid brake is connected between two of these leads sothat this coil is energized to'release the brake whenever the motor isenergized.

, The motor leads I5I are connected through the main contacts I52 of amain switch I53 to the supply conductors I54, I54; and I546. Main switchI53 is an electromagnetically operated switch having an operating coilI55 which, when energized, closes the main switch contacts as well as apair ofholding contacts I56.

The coil 43 of' and therefore opens'the main switch I53 stopping motor42! I The opening of timing switch I12 will have the same eflect and camI16 is timed so that roller Manual control ofthe case opener operationis provided for by means of apush button control switch I51. Included inthis switch there is a normally open starting switch I58, a nor.-

' mally ,closed stopping switch I59 and a threeposition control switchI60. With control switch I60 in the hand position, the motor 42 can bestarted by-pushing the start switch I58 but the motor will operate onlyso long as this switch is held closed by hand. The circuit establishedby closing this switch comprises. a conductor I6I' from supply-line.54a. to operating coil I55 of the main switch, thence through conductorI62 8 to contact I63 of control switch I60, through this switch toconductor I64 and thence through the contacts of. starting switch I58to-conductor' 'matic position shown in full lines in Fig. 18, the

energization of operating coil I55 of main switch I58 is placed underthe control of a relay I61.

This, as will be seen presently, (1) enables motor 62 to be stopped bypushing the stopping switch I58; (2) causes the automatic stopping ofmotor 82 in the event nocase has been squared up at the squaring-upstation S1; (3) stops motor 42 in case the supply of cans in the canpacking machine is low; (4) automatically restarts motor 82 as soon asthe supply of cans returns to normal.

- Assuming that control switch I 60 is in the automatic position,pressing the starting switch i58 will close a circuit from supplyconductor i54, conductors I66 and I65, then through the starting switchto conductor I64 and control switch I 60 to a conductor I68 which leadsto the operating coil I69 of relay I61; thence through conductor I10 toconductor I6I and supply conductor I54s. This causes therelay armatureto rise, closing its main contacts "I and closing holding contacts I12.Closing main contactsI1I energizes coil I55 of themain switch throughcircuits to be described. I

The closing of holding contacts I12 establishes a circuit which keepsrelay I61 in its closed positime after the starting "switch I58 isreleased,

This circuit is from conductor I65 through the normally closed contactsofst'opping switch I59 to conductor I18; thenceythrough the contacts oia normally closed timing switch I14'having a roller I15 which cooperateswith .a cam I16 on mainshaft'65 to open and close thisswitch. Thecircuit continues from switch I14 through 0011-. ductors I11 and I18through controlling contacts I15 will open switch I14 during the latterpart of the operation of the vacuum cup mechanism to open the case, asis to be seen from Fig. 19.

As previously described, however, the case-detector switch 95 is closedmomentarily as its actuating lever'is raised by the corner of the caseduring the final-squaring up movement. The timing is such that undernormal operation switch 95 will be closed while timing switch I14 isopened, and as the contacts of switch 95 are in parallel with thecontacts of switch I14, the holding circuit of operating coil I69 of therelay will not be opened. Should the squaring-up mechanism failproperly-to square up a case so asto close switch 95, however, thiscircuit would be opened by the opening of switch I14 and this wouldde-energize the relay coil and stop motor 42.

The automatic stopping of motor 42, should. the supply of cans in thecan packer become low,

and the re-starting when the supply is replenished, is accomplished bymeans of a low supply I12, conductor I19, conductor I80, relay operatingcoil I69 and conductors I10 and I6I to supply conductor I549,-

Obviously, pressing the stopping switch I59 opens this circuit,de-energizes the relay coil I69 a conductor I89.

stopping switch I8I and a high supply starting switch I82, and by meansof a normally closed cam operated timing switch I83. The low and highswitches I8I and I82 are actuatedby pivoted counterbalanced can runwaysections I84 and I85, respectively-,as illustrated in,Fig. l7.

Under normal conditions of operation, low stopping switch I8I is closedand high starting switch I82 is open, just the same as the main 1 stopand start buttons I59 and 15a. Should the supply of cans shown in solidlines on the runway be reduced somewhat, the pivoted runway section I84would rise, opening stopping switch I8I, and this, as will presently beseen, de-energizes the operating coil I55 of main switch I53, therebystopping motor 42. Thereafter as soon as the supply of cans increases toabout the extent shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 17, low switch II"will be re-closed and high starting switch I82 will also be closed. Thisre-energizes coil I55 and re-starts the case opener motor 42.

The circuit arrangement is such, however, that when the low supplystopping switch I8I is opened, motor 42 will be maintained in operationuntil the feed plunger 1 and the delivery carriage 8 have completedtheir strokes and returned to their initial positions. This effect isproduced .by means of the timing switch I83 which is actuated by meansof a roller I86 which cooperates energizing circuit of coil I55 haspreviously been traced from supply conductor I54athrough the coil and toconductor I62. Fromthis conductor "the circuit is through conductorI88,vthrou'gh main contacts "I of the relay I61 and then to' The circuitfromthis pointback to the supply conductor I54 may become pleted ineither of two ways. So long as the supply of cans isopen low switch I8 Ithe circuit is through conductor I90holding contacts I56 otm'ain switchI53, conductor I9I, conductor I93, low supply stopping switch I8I andconductors I93, I94-and normal (that is, the number of cans on therunway is not-depleted enough to I66 to supply conductor I54. Should thesupply of cans reach a point low enough to open switch II", the circuitwould then be temporarily maintained from conductor I9I throughconductor I95, tiniing switch I83 and conductors I96 and I66 back tosupply wire I54, so that main switch I53 would not open until theplunger 1 and car- .riage 8 returned to their initial positions, at

which instant timing switch I83 would open and stop the motor 42.

Assuming the machine has been thus stopped due to the supply of cansbeing depleted, when the supply is replenished so that the high supplystarting switch I82 is closed, a circuit will be established from themain contacts "I of relay I 51 (which is still held in its upward orclosed position), through conductor I89, conductor I96,

switch It: and conductors I91, I94, and I66 back to supply conductorI54.- This re-establishes the circuit through operating coil I55 of mainswitch I53 and closes this switch, thereby re-starting the operatingmotor of the case opener.

Because ofthe arrangement and timing 'of the present case openingapparatus, it is intended to square up corrugated board or fibre boardshipping cases and place them on the funnel of a case packing machine ata rate of operation higher than is attainable by hand opening even whenseveral men are operating in short shifts,

,an'd'also at a considerably higher speed than is attainable with anyapparatus of which I am aware.

It will be understood that the above description and" the. appendeddrawings exemplify my improved apparatus for opening shipping cases anddelivering them to a delivery station, together with the automaticcontrols which I have dewith a case packing machine, but that thepurpose of such disclosure ismerely for illustrative I yised foroperating this machine in association purposes rather than to delimitthe invention.

. from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, reciprocatingfeeding means for feeding the cases one at a time to an opening station,means for squaring up the case at the opening station, and reciprocatingdelivering means operating at substantially right angles to the feedingcases, feeding means for feeding cases edgewise one at a time'to anopening station, means for squaring up the case at the opening station,reciprocating delivery means operating at substantially right angles tothe feeding means for advancing the squared-up case to a deliverystation, said delivery means including a carriage having means forengaging the upper side margins'of the case and a pushing member forengaging the rear of the case.

4. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine forholding collapsed cases, feeding means for feeding cases edgewise one ata time to an opening station, means for squaring up the case at theopening station, reciprocating delivery means operating at substantiallyright angles to the feeding means for advancing the squared-up case to adelivery station, said delivery means including a carriage having meansfor engaging the upper side margins of the case and a pushing member forengaging the rear of the case, and means for controlling said arm tocause it to fold the adjacent flap at the rear of the case prior topushing the case forward and to clear the next succeeding case on thereturn movement of the delivery means.

5'. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding-collapsed cases, means for feeding the same one at'a timefrom the magazine to an opening station having case-supporting means,mechanism for squaring up the case at the opening station, meansoperating simultaneously with said feeding means for advancing asquared-up case to a delivery station, said movement being at aboutright angles to the feeding movement of the case, and said feeding meansincluding a slideway for the collapsed cases which is disposed at anangle to the case-supporting means at the squaring up station.

6. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the fiat, a magazine forholding collapsed cases, means for feeding the same one at a timeatright angles to the axis of the magazine to an opening station,case-supporting means at said station, mechanism for squaring up thecase at the opening station, means operating simultaneously with saidfeeding means for advancing a. squared-up case to a delivery station,said movement being at about right angles to the feeding movement of"the case, the axis of said magazine being tilted with respect to theaxis" of the case when squared up at the opening station, whereby thecollapsed cases are delivered to the opening station at an angle to thecase-supmeans for advancing the squared-up case to a delivery station.and means ,for reciprocating the feeding means and the delivering meanssimul taneously so as to cause a collapsed case to leave the magazine atapproximately the same instant that a squared-up case leaves the openingstation. 2. In a magazine for opening shipping cases from the flat, amagazine for holding collapsed cases, feeding means for feeding casesone at a time to an opening station, means for squaring up the case atthe opening station, reciprocating delivery means operating atsubstantially right angles to the feeding means for advancing thesquared-up case to a delivery station, said delivery means including acarriage, and means for bl supporting the same, said carriagehavingmembers tocooperate with the squared-up case tohold it in squared-upposition;

3. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine forholding collapsed porting means thereof.

-7. In 'a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding a stack of collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arrangedtoslide the cases one at a time from the bottom of the magazine, anupwardly biased main catch carried by the plunger for engaging the rearedge of the lowermost case of the stack to push it for-' ward, saidcatch having limited upward movement to avoid scarring the adjacent casein the stack, the engageable portion of the rear edge of the case risingout of range of said catch after the case leaves the stack, and anauxiliary catch carried by the plunger arranged to move upwardly andengage the case as the rear edge thereof rises out of range of the maincatch.

8. In a machine for opening shipping *cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding a stack of collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arrangedtoislidefl the cases one at a time from the bottom of the magazine, anupwardly biased catch carried by the "plunger for engaging the rear edgeof the lowrmostcase of the stack to push it me o forward, said catch"having limited upward movement to avoid scarring the adjacent case inthe stack, and'means for adjusting the limit of the upwardmovement ofthe catch in order to accommodate cases of differentthickness.

9. -Ina machinefor opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine forholding a stack of collapsed cases a reciprocating plunger arranged toslide the cases one at a time from the bottom gaging the upper side ofthe case, and actuating means for shifting the first vacuum cup upwardlyinto engagement with the lower side of the case and for swin ing thelinkage mechanism to bring the second vacuum cup into engagement withthe upper side of the case and thereafter swinging said mechanism in theopposite direction to open of the magazine, thecases being resilientandv tending to expand in thickness when the pres sure of thestackisremoved, an upwardly biased catch carried by the plunger for engagingthe rearedge of the lowermost case of the stack to ward movement toavoid scarring the adjacent case of the stack, and a dribble bar withinthe magazine to limit the ,weight of the stack resting on the bottomcase so as to keep the successive suit the height of said catch. I

10. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a stackof collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arranged to slide the casesone at a timefrom the-bottom of the magazine, a slideway for supportingthe cases, the outer portion of said-slideway changing its direction soas to cause thefront of the case to drop and the push it forward, saidcatch having limited up- 1 bottom cases compressed to uniform thicknessto rear of the case to rise, and a guide member to frictionally engagethe upper surface of the rear margin of the case as the rear of the caserises so as to prevent the resiliency of the case from causing it tospring away from the plunger.

11. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one ata time fromthe magazine to an opening station, a stop at said station for engagingthe forward edge of the collapsed case, ineans for squaring up the casewhile maintaining'ltin engagement with said stop, a control circuitincluding a switch the opening of which stops the machine, and anactuating lever therefor arranged tobe moved by the comer. of

the case diagonally. opposite from said stop, said lever being adaptedto engage the squared-up case to, engage said corner of the case afterit is squared up to maintain the case in squared-up condition.-

12. In a machine" for opening shippingcases from the fiat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, meansfor feeding them one at a time fromthe magazine to an opening station, a stop at said station for engagingthe forward edge of the collapsed case and mechanism for squaring up thecase at the opening station comprising a vacuum cup for holding one sideof the case and a parallelogram linkage mechanism pivoted adjacent saidstop and carrying an arm all positions of which are parallel to oneanother, a vacuum cup on said arm for engaging the opposite side of thecase and meansto actuatesaid linkage mechanism. Y r 1 13. m. a machinefor opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holdingcollapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazineto an opening station, a stop at said station for engaging the forwardedge of the col-' lapsed case andmechanism for squaring up the case atthe opening station comprising an up- I wardly shiftable vacuum cupadjacent the lower side of the case, and a parallelogram linkagemechanism pivoted adjacent said'stop and carrying 'an arm all positionsof which are parallel the case.

14. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, meansfor supporting a case blank, in squared-up position including rigidmembers having a substantially straight edge supporting the exterior ofthe case body adjacent the flap fold lines of two opposite sides, andmeans for spreading the flaps forcing their fold lines against thestraight edges of said supporting members to initially bendthem alongthese fold linesto. facilitate the subsequent closing of- I 15. In a'machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means'fonsupporting a case blank in squared-up position including membersengaging the exterior of the case body adjacent the flap fold lines oftwo opposite sides, rotary devices for spreading the flaps to initiallyhand them along these fold lines to facilitate the subsequent closing ofthe flaps, and rotary devices operating during the spreading of saidflaps for folding the intermediate flaps.

16. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, meansfor supporting a case blank in squared-up position, and means forfolding a flap thereof to closed position comprising main and auxiliaryrotary folders, the auxiliary folder engaging the flap to break the samealong its fold line,and the main folder engaging the broken flap to.fold it to closed position,. and means for rotating said folders.

17. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, meansfor supporting a case blank in squared-up position, means for folding .aflap thereof during formation of an end wall of the case comprising mainandauxiliary folders, the auxiliary folder engaging the flap to breakthe same along its fold line, and the main folder engaging the brokenflap to fold it to closed position, a commonshaft carrying said folders,and means for rotating the same.-

18. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, meansfor supporting a case blank in squared-up position, means for folding aflap thereof to closed position comprising a shaft disposed outwardlyfrom the flap hinge and arranged to rotate in parallel relation'thereto,and means for rotating the shaft, said shaft carrying an auxiliaryfolder arranged to engage the outer portion ofthe flap to initiallybendthe I same at its hinge portion, and a main folderon said shaft arrangedto contact the flap progressively closer to the flap hinge asthe shaftrotates thus folding theiiap to closed position.

19. In a machine of the classdescribed,a case packing machine having afunnel for receiving thereon a case to be filled and including a storagerunway for articles to be packed, a case opening machine adapted toreceive collapsed cases,

square them up and deliver them to the funnel of the case packingmachine, mechanism actuated by the articles in the storage runway forstopping the operation of the case opening machine when there is afailure in the supply of articles in the storage runway, and meansactuated by the articles in the storage runway for re-starting thecase-opening machine when the to one another, a vacuumcuponisaidarmiorenms.

' ing up the case at said station. comprising a lower pair of suctioncups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case, an upper pair ofsuction cups adapted to engage the top side of said case andparallel-motion mechanism for raising the upper pair of suction cupswhile maintaining them parallel with the lower suction cups so as tosquare up the case.

21. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases. means for feeding said cases one at a timefrom the magazine to stationary position at a squaring up station andmechanism for squaring up the case at said station comprising a lowerpair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case,an upper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case andparallel-motion mechanism including an arm pivoted adjacent the lowerside of the case and carrying the upper pair of suction cups and adapted25. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding collapsed to swing them upwardly while maintainingthemparallel with the lower side of the case thereby to square up the case.

22.-In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding said cases one at a timefrom the magazine to stationary position at a squaring up station andmechanism for squaring up' the case at said station comprising a lowerpair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case,an upper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case andparallel-motion mechanism including an arm pivoted in the plane of thelower side of the case and carrying the upper pair of suction cups andadapted to swing them upwardly while maintaining them parallel with thelower side of the case thereby to square up the case.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of case packingmechanism having a predetermined cycle of operation for inserting a.charge of articles within a case and having a funnel through which thecharge is passed into the case, a tripping device for initiating thesaid cycle of operation, squaring up mechanism having a; predeterminedcycle of operation independent of said packing mechanism including meansfor squaring out case blanks and delivering them successively to saidfunnel, tripping device actuating means operated in timed relation tothe squaring-up mechanism to actuate said tripping device in timedrelation to the delivery of each successive case to said funnel, andmeans actuated by the case on the funnel for controlling said trippingdevice actuating means.

24. In a machine of the class described, the

. combination of case packing mechanism having a predetermined cycle ofoperation for inserting a charge of articles within a case and having afunnel through which the charge is passed into the case, a trippingdevice for initiating the said cycle of operation, squaring up mechanismhaving a predetermined cycle of operation independ-' ent of said packingmechanism including meansfor squaring out case blanks and deliveringthem cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazine to anopening station, mechanism operating while-the case is at rest at theopening station for squaring-up the case, devices operating while thecase is in stationary position at the opening station for folding theflaps thereof to form one end of the case, and delivering means formoving the squared-up case from the opening station. a.

26. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the'fiat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time fromthe magazine to an opening station, mechanism operating while the caseis at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, rotarydevices at the opening station adjacent one end of the squared-up caseadapted to fold the flaps at that end of the case to form one end to thecase, and delivery means for removing the squaredup case from theopening station.

'27. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the fiat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one, at a time fromthe magazine to an opening station, mechanism operating while the caseis at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, devicesoperating while the case is in stationary position at the openingstation for folding the flaps thereof toform one end' of the case,delivering means for removing the squared-up case from the openingstation, and means for actuating said feeding means and delivering meanssimultaneously.

28. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time fromthe magazine to an opening tation, mechanism operating while the case isat rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, rotary devicesat the opening station adjacent one endof the squared-up case adapted tofold the flaps at that end'of the case to form one end of the case,delivery means. for removing the squared-up case from'the openingstation, and

means for actuating said feeding mean and delivering meanssimultaneously.

29. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat,- a magazinefor holding collapsed cases, means for feeding said cases one at a timefrom the magazine to stationary position at a squaring-up station andmechanism for squaring up the case at said station comprising a lowerpair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of the collapsed case, anupper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case andparallel-motion mechanism carrying the upper pair of suction cups andadapted to swing them upwardly'while maintaining them parallel with thelower side of the case thereby; to square-sup

